Hobbayne Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 How many of you use earplugs when rehearsing and gigging? I have noticed my own hearing has been going down the pan recently. In order to preserve whats left I have bought some mould your own ones that fit your ears precisely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6feet7 Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 Which ones did you get (and where)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbayne Posted September 28, 2014 Author Share Posted September 28, 2014 These ones [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Proguard-MYO-Mould-custom-earplugs/dp/B006ZLF9EU"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Proguard-MYO-Mould-custom-earplugs/dp/B006ZLF9EU[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inthedoghouse Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 These http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alpine-MusicSafe-Classic-Filter-Plug/dp/B0032BYCWG/ref=sr_1_4?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1411918608&sr=1-4&keywords=ear+plugs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 (edited) There's an Earplug sticky [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/533-ear-plugs/"]here[/url] if anyone's interested... I stopped using them as our band didn't seem that loud, but I now realise that we [i]are [/i]that loud, so started again. It really doesn't take a lot of volume to damage your hearing. Edited September 28, 2014 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrtcat Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 Won't play without them. I have some nice custom molds from acs but my amp bag, guitar cases and car have multiple pairs of cheap disposable ones stashed in in case I forget or misplace my good ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edster Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 Just started playing in a covers band after many years away from rehearsal rooms. Liked the look of the classic filter so have purchased the pro filters. My hearing's bad as it is so I can't afford to lose any more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LiamPodmore Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 I have a pair of cheapies, but i've been using my Soundmagic PL50's (With Comply foam tips) because they give me a better seal, and can also act as earphones when it's someone i don't want to listen to. Liam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 [quote name='Hobbayne' timestamp='1411918262' post='2563870'] These ones [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Proguard-MYO-Mould-custom-earplugs/dp/B006ZLF9EU"]http://www.amazon.co...s/dp/B006ZLF9EU[/url] [/quote] The mould-your-own ones look interesting but do they cut out ALL noise? This would be OK for motorsport or shooting, or whatever - but I prefer the ones that allow sound into your ears and attenuates it when it reaches a damaging level - it's useful to be able to hear what everyone's playing and actually have conversations at rehearsal, and so forth... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1411923583' post='2563942'] The mould-your-own ones look interesting but do they cut out ALL noise? This would be OK for motorsport or shooting, or whatever - but I prefer the ones that allow sound into your ears and attenuates it when it reaches a damaging level - it's useful to be able to hear what everyone's playing and actually have conversations at rehearsal, and so forth... [/quote] I've a set of these that I don't use any more - dulled the sound too much so there was just mud - started a volume-based arms race in the band which wasn't good. Switched over to ACS ER20S on recommendation of one of the guitarists and they're prefect - I can hear well but have no ringing after rehearsal or gig. the old ones would have prevented me doing backing vox. http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0034ZI9AQ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 [quote name='Iain' timestamp='1411924057' post='2563947'] Switched over to ACS ER20S on recommendation of one of the guitarists and they're prefect - I can hear well but have no ringing after rehearsal or gig. the old ones would have prevented me doing backing vox. [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0034ZI9AQ"]http://www.amazon.co...duct/B0034ZI9AQ[/url] [/quote] Exactly the ones I use. Not as good as the more expensive custom items but are affordable - and more importantly, work very well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leroydiamond Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 If you are serious about preserving what hearing you have left then the best and most importantly safest option are custom fit IMO. Yep, I had been using cheap generic ACS ER20S in the belief that I was doing a good job protecting my hearing. However the sudden onset of tinnitus some years ago, brought me to a consultation with an audiologist and when I presented him with my cheap generics, he simply chucked them in the bin. He explained to me that every ear canal is unique, so generic plugs are not a safe bet. I then invested in ACS custom fits and have never looked back. They have kept me in the game and are the easily the best equipment investment I have ever made. Regular visits to the audiologists confirm they are protecting whatever hearing I have left. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_P Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 I used to have some custom moulded but they disappeared somewhere along the way (made a mistake of ordering clear ones) How have you found the moulding your own? It looks easy enough and most reviews are positive so I'm tempted to try it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Number6 Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 I've just had my ears tested and actually they're in much better condition than i thought they would be. I will be definitely looking to get ear plugs for rehearsals to protect what i thought was already damaged hearing 👂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 [quote name='Hobbayne' timestamp='1411917111' post='2563852'] How many of you use earplugs when rehearsing and gigging? I have noticed my own hearing has been going down the pan recently. In order to preserve whats left I have bought some mould your own ones that fit your ears precisely. [/quote] Would be interested in knowing how you get on with these, I've got the er'20s but they alter the sound too much for me. Let us know if your new plugs attenuate equally across all frequencies please mate. Les Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leroydiamond Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 [quote name='Les' timestamp='1411931392' post='2564075'] Would be interested in knowing how you get on with these, I've got the er'20s but they alter the sound too much for me. Let us know if your new plugs attenuate equally across all frequencies please mate. Les [/quote] Just thought I would chime in and IMO the ACS custom fits offer a really nice balanced attenuation, which has little in common with the much cheaper generics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 I've become a convert to IEMs, and often wear them not even plugged in because the sound level is so much nicer. What I don't like though is not being able to hear people's voices - when it's noisy, and I don;t have them in, I can hear the guitarist when he shouts at me, but when I have them in, even unplugged, it's more difficult. It's funny to NOT hear my ears whistling after a gig. If I ever have to do a show with wedges and no gizmos in my ears, the whistles afterwards take longer and longer to clear - and I have a couple of very quite permanent ones now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougal Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 [quote name='mrtcat' timestamp='1411920548' post='2563895'] Won't play without them. I have some nice custom molds from acs but my amp bag, guitar cases and car have multiple pairs of cheap disposable ones stashed in in case I forget or misplace my good ones. [/quote] This. Many times. I went for the -15db acs custom mould jobbies http://acscustom.com/uk/product/acs-pro-15/ (Boots audiologist can do the mould easily and cheaply enough). I started with the 25s but they were too occlusive. So it's now loud enough, but no ringing in ears post-gig. It does take a while to attune to them, but it's worth it in the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassintheface Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 I too have ACS custom PRO moulds. I have a set of 20dB filters and a set of 17's. They are truly wonderful. I am just about to order a set of ACS T2 IEM's too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 Another plus one for the custom ACS 15s, and I have the cheapo IEMs which fit into them too. Best money I've spent on kit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeystrange Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 [quote name='dougal' timestamp='1412076932' post='2565344'] This. Many times. I went for the -15db acs custom mould jobbies http://acscustom.com/uk/product/acs-pro-15/ (Boots audiologist can do the mould easily and cheaply enough). I started with the 25s but they were too occlusive. So it's now loud enough, but no ringing in ears post-gig. It does take a while to attune to them, but it's worth it in the end. [/quote] This. Word-for-word. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 (edited) I've been using ACS ER15's since 2007. These ear plugs are worth every penny. Many of the guys I play with are crazy enough to not be protecting themselves on loud gigs and are showing signs of serious hearing loss. Edited October 8, 2014 by chris_b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt P Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 ive got a set of the er20's and some of the alpine pro (with the 3 interchangable filters) i've been looking at the cheap mould your own ones and was thinking that they would cut out too much sound, what about drilling them and fitting the filters from my Alpines? would that work? Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulWarning Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 trouble is 99% of musicians don't use them till the damage is done, I've a big hole around 3-4K Hz, as well as tinnitus in one ear, the audiologist reckoned it was the lower frequencies that do the damage I use the music safe ones, I've told our younger than me guitarist and singer to wear ear plugs before the damage occurs, do they listen, do they f**k Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 [quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1412760893' post='2571639'] ...the audiologist reckoned it was the lower frequencies that do the damage [/quote] That's interesting - I always thought it was very loud high frequencies that did for you. [quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1412760893' post='2571639'] ...I've told our younger than me guitarist and singer to wear ear plugs before the damage occurs, do they listen, do they f**k [/quote] Ah, youth. This was the about the only advice I ever took as a kid thank God, so my hearing's OK. With everything else I ignored everyone, made my own mistakes and regretted them later, as usual... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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